“Aw, I knew she loved me really,” he mocks as he holds his hand out for me. “Come on, sweetheart. It’s time to get you home.”
“I’m okay. We can stay longer if you want,” I offer despite the exhaustion tugging at my muscles.
He smiles at me before reaching out to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “Bedtime,” he insists before taking my hand and tugging me in the direction of the happy couple. Despite knowing better, flutters instantly erupt in my lower belly, and my thighs clench.
Our hot-and-heavy make out on the couch earlier comes back to me, and fire licks through my veins.
Lock it down, Bea. He just wants to tuck you in and put you to sleep.
After a quick goodbye to Parker, Linc, Alison and Clark, Everett leads me out of the hotel and to a waiting Uber.
The second we’re inside. I snuggle up beside him and rest my head against his shoulder.
“Tonight was a good night,” I murmur, my eyelids already falling closed.
“Yeah,” he says, his hand gently rubbing up and down my back as the car takes off. “It was. I love seeing my sister that happy.”
I think she’d say the same about you. A smile pulls at my lips, but I can’t voice the words in my head because I’m already drifting off.
“Sweetheart. Bea. We’re home, baby,” Everett’s deep voice rumbles what feels like only seconds later.
I blink, and when my vision clears, I find his building on the other side of the window.
“Shit,” I hiss. “Sorry, I fell asleep.”
Everett chuckles, but he doesn’t say anything as he untangles himself from me and pushes the door open.
Once he’s out, he reaches back in and thanks the driver as he tugs me free and pulls me into his side.
“Everyone loved you tonight,” he tells me as we ride the elevator up to the top floor.
“That’s because they’re all scared I could beat them in a real gun fight,” I explain, making him laugh.
“Yeah, that probably has something to do with it. But I think it’s got more to do with how awesome you are,” he says, turning into my body, stepping so close I end up pinned between him and the railing behind me.
“Is that right?”
His lips drop, pressing a simple kiss to the corner of mine.
“Yep,” he confirms as he kisses a trail across my jaw until he hits my ear.
“Oh God,” I moan when he sucks on that sensitive bit of skin that drives me wild.
Any lingering tiredness is wiped away as his hands slide from my hips, over my waist until they rest on my ribs, his thumbs grazing across the undersides of my breasts, making my nipples pebble painfully against the fabric of my bra.
“Donnelly, sweetheart. There’s fuck all God can do for you right now.”
His words are delivered as arrogantly as all those he spoke that first night, and they hit their target just as effectively.
My hands twist in the soft fabric of his shirt as he works his way down my neck and to my chest.
One of my feet leaves the floor, my leg hitching around his hip in the hope of finding the friction I need.
His hand finds my ass and he pins us tighter together, allowing me to feel just how much he needs this too.
I groan as I roll my hips, sparks shooting through my body, but all too soon, the elevator dings.
I want to cling to him, force him to carry me into the apartment so we don’t have to stop, but I get a hold of myself, lower my foot, and take a deep, calming breath.
